Annie’s First Field Trip

Yesterday was Annie’s field trip with her class to the pumpkin patch. I was so glad we had this on the calendar because I think it was the only thing that got jet-lagged, time-zone-confused Annie to sleep on Monday night. Her class met at the pumpkin patch, which disappointed Annie a bit because she wanted to ride on a school bus, but she got over it pretty quickly once she arrived and saw her classmates.

After missing a week of school I didn’t know how she would be around the other kids. She did hang back a little, and I’m not sure if that was because of the new environment, if she was tired/jet lagged, or if that’s just how she is around her classmates. I’m volunteering in her classroom on Thursday and I’ll be interested to see how she is when she’s back in the regular (albeit costumed) setting.

The kids had the entire patch to themselves, which was pretty cool. First they learned about carving a pumpkin:

Annie has since told me repeatedly that she needs a “sharp knife to carve her pumpkin,” so clearly this was an age-appropriate lesson.

The patch has a bunch of rides and inflatables, and the kids had free-reign. Annie still insisted on making sure she was tall enough to ride.

She loved the swings and spinning tubs:

Unsurprisingly, all the kids were obsessed with the inflatables.

The top of the giant slide…sigh. She’s been on the giant inflatable slide a million times, but she chose yesterday to completely flip her lid once she got to the top.

She refused to slide down and was running back and forth along the top of the slide freaking out like a deranged toddler Donkey Kong. Finally, a worker from the patch went up to retrieve her. In situations like that I’m in the THROW HER DOWN! camp and that’s exactly what the employee did, which I personally think is awesome.

What’s even more frustrating is that when I asked her what her favorite part of the day was she said, “The giant slide!” Oh, the big thing you melted down on? Yeah, makes sense.

The most miraculous thing is that we only added one mini pumpkin to our collection! I’m looking forward to Thursday in her classroom. I’ve been completely hands-off, letting Annie make friends and fit in on her own, and I’m hoping that Thursday will show that she’s been successful and thriving.

Emily says:

MissyK says:

I’m with the others…the “deranged toddler donkey kong” seriously cracked me up! My youngest pulled a similar thing when he was about 5. He desperately wanted to go through the haunted house with his big brother and his friends (3yrs older). I kept telling him I didn’t think he would like it. But I finally gave in. Yep…got to the center of the haunted house & completely lost it. I made the hubby go in & get him (sorry…I HATE haunted houses!!) THEN he got upset because I wouldn’t let him go again. smh

Kristen says:

We had a donkey kong moment on a similar giant slide this summer at our town’s police-sponsored National Night Out. And I was in a dress, having gone right after work without changing, so I wasn’t climbing up there to throw my son down. The teenager working the slide was SO annoyed about having to go up and regulate. I was like, “Sorry, dude. Three-year-olds are assholes sometimes.”

Caela says:

Jenn says:

So here I am having a rough morning but sure enough I link onto your site and the next thing I know, I’m smiling. You’re so flippin’ funny Heather and I am so happy & proud to call you my friend. Thank you!

Jess says:

Oh mine LOVES having her hair blow dried. Tell her it’s really special–ONLY big girls can have their hair dried like this–maybe she’ll go for it. BTW, you had me at “deranged toddler Donkey Kong”… fav blog ever. I too am in the “throw her down!!!” camp, so yay for the employee and yay for Annie overcoming her fears and enjoying it (I’m assuming, since she claimed it as her favorite ;))

Kids are so weird sometimes. Mine will have the best day and then say “I didn’t like it.” Yeah right!

Lisa says:

Christina says:

How do you not laugh sometimes when she is upset? I know that would just hurt her feelings or upset her more (my sister lived with my parents and I for a bit while my nephew was a toddler so I did lots of babysitting and may or may not have made him cry once or twice by laughing at his frustration). It would just be so hard for me not to at least crack a smirk. When it isn’t frustrating me to the point of pulling my hair out, that is.

Jess says:

I know it’s not directed to me–but I totally laugh when my 4 year old has her “moments”. Assuming she’s not hurt or it’s actually something serious. In our case the laughter helps defuse her–other kids react differently. My nephew gets SO upset if you even crack a smile at his meltdowns.

AngieM. says:

As a former deranged Donkey Kong myself, I’m glad my parents forced me to do some things that scared me! (Like actually climbing back down the giant rope course in Sea World that I absolutely begged to ascend in the first place.) Glad Annie (and you!) had a great time!

Jess says:

Looking forward to your preschool update, btw. I have a feeling little Annie isn’t having trouble making friends Does she talk to you about school yet? Ava loves to tell me alllll about the other kids in the class and which ones are her friends and which ones.. aren’t. LOL.

Meg says:

I feel like the addition of “deranged” to “toddler Donkey Kong” is somewhat superfluous (but great). They’re toddlers. They are wonderful and sweet but LOGIC WHAT LOGIC THEY’RE THREE. Hence having the worst part be the “favorite” part. Hah!

(Please tell me y’all are dressing Rigby up for Halloween again. I’ve completely failed with a dog costume this year, what with all the moving, working, and being sick. I need vicarious adorability.)